The consequences for committing crimes are becoming less and less these days. Officers often deal with the lack of support from politicians, but it seems that the justice system overall is not handling cases with the level of seriousness they deserve, with judges being incredibly lenient.
Walking in the Streets
In Pontiac, Michigan, an Oakland County Sheriff deputy went out to a call for a woman walking in and out of the street. Andrea Ariel-Jones Sheppard, 32, was standing in the center of the street when the deputy arrived.
The responding officer asked her if she required any help. She would not give the deputy her name. Instead, she began to yell obscenities at him and became agitated.
A second deputy arrived onsite, and Sheppard began to walk closer to the responding officer. According to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, before the officer could even get out of his car, Sheppard assaulted him, punching him in the face and the head.
Defending Themselves
The officer pushed the woman away, but Sheppard continued to attack him. The other deputy onsite used his taser to subdue and subsequently arrest Sheppard.
The officer took her into custody. However, according to the sheriff's office, she struck the officer with such force that it broke his orbital bone around his eye.
The injured deputy was taken to the hospital for treatment. The deputy was a 29-year law enforcement veteran, who is 58 years old. He will be off work for a couple of weeks while his injuries heal.
Law and Order?
Sheppard faced arraignment for a felony charge of assaulting an officer, a charge that can carry up to a four year sentence. However, at her arraignment, 50th District Judge Ronda Gross had Sheppard released on a $1,000 bond, while she awaits her trial.
A $1,000 personal bond means that no money comes out of the the defendant's pocket to secure their freedom. Sheriff Bouchard was livid at the move.
“I am angry at how regularly people assault police officers today and how little attention or care they have in Washington for this.”
Sheriff Bouchard
This is Sheppard's second brush with the law, as she was charged with reckless use of a firearm in 2016. For that, she was released on a $10,000 bond.
Uneven Ground
Bouchard is correct to be angry. Releasing someone for assaulting an officer on such a low bond amount sends the wrong message to criminals.